Carr

About us

Welcome to the Carr Surname DNA Genealogy Project, The Carr Project for short. The project is open to everyone whose paternal line uses a phonetic variant of the Carr surname. The goal of this project is to aid all Carr family historians in overcoming brick walls in ancestral research by establishing the probability of recent common paternal line descent between the various Carr paternal lineages around the world today. In the European regions where Carr ancestry is common, a family used the paternal line surname, except when female family members married and adopted their husband's surname. Thus tracing Carr paternal familial lineage is best accomplished using YSTR DNA results. Surnames, which became common in northwest Europe primarily after the 12th century and were often adhered to only after the 18th century, were often spelled phonetically by the person recording them. Phonetic variations to a surname were common through the 19th century when reading and writing became more widespread in the populous. Thus, the Carr project includes all phonetic variations and ancestral names connected to Carr. Comparing verified paper trail ancestry with others who share a genetic (DNA) connection with other family lineages can aid in linking family trees and, with some good fortune, extend the family trees to previous generations.

Carr paternal line YDNA haplotypes established to date have ancestral connections to the border lands of Scotland and England, Germany, England, Ireland, Belize, and the throughout the Americas, especially Canada and the United States. Families using a phonetic variation of the Carr surname with other ancestral origins have also been identified.

Only males can be tested for Y chromosome DNA, which is passed through the paternal line. The 37-marker YSTR-DNA test is recommended for highest fidelity results. A more limited test using fewer markers can be used to establish the probability of relatedness and expanded later if desired. 67 markers are recommended for close matches at the 37 marker level. Ancient ancestral identity can be studied using Y SNP and autosomal DNA tests.

Maternal Line ancestral connections and recent common ancestry can be identified using mitochondria DNA, mtDNA, which is passed solely from a mother to her sons and daughters. Both men and women can be tested for their maternal line mtDNA.

mtDNA results are also included in the project, these results are not as useful in tracing common surname history however since most married women have adopted the husbands surname upon marriage.

Some project participants using autosomal DNA in addition to YSTR or mt DNA to establish a Carr familial connection will have YSTR results shown on the FTDNA Carr Project website as well. Those results are segregated and are not significant in establishing Carr paternal lineage.

Information about the use of DNA in genealogy is available on the Family Tree DNA home page.

Join the adventure and learn about your ancestry, submit a request for a DNA test kit today and start your ancestral search journey as part of the Carr Family DNA Genealogy Project.